biography

Recoil is the name of the solo project created by Alan Wilder (b. Alan Charles Wilder, 1 June 1959,Hammersmith, London, England). A talented pianist and flautist while at school, Wilder became a studio assistant and session musician at London recording studios at the age of 16 before graduating through various unsuccessful bands such as the Dragons, Dafne And The Tenderspots, Real To Real and the Hitmen before answering an advertisement in Melody Maker that sought a keyboard player for an "established band". This turned out to be Depeche Mode, and Wilder, who was brought in to replace the departed Vince Clarke, ended up staying with the band for 15 years. His first release as Recoil came in 1986 with 1+2, although it had been completed some years before. Entirely instrumental and electronic, the album bore little resemblance to the pop sensibility of Depeche Mode's releases. Despite the demanding recording and touring commitments of Wilder's "day job", another Recoil release followed in 1988 in the form of Hydrology. Another stark contrast to Depeche Mode, Wilder commented that the project was something of "an antidote to Depeche Mode - a way to alleviate the frustrations of working within a pop format". Having produced labelmates Nitzer Ebb's Ebbhead, Wilder recruited the band's vocalist Douglas McCarthy for Recoil's Bloodline, released in 1992 and also featuring Moby and Toni Halliday of Curve. Somewhat more commercial than the previous releases, the album featured Wilder's trademark cinematic soundscapes and melodramatic melodies but this time featured complete songs. Unsound Methods, released in 1997, was Wilder's first solo album since leaving Depeche Mode. Again featuring a number of guest vocalists, it was highly praised by sections of the UK music press, many critics again noting its cinematic qualities, emotional depth and range of styles. The emphasis on spoken word was even more pronounced on the follow-up, Liquid, which included vocal contributions from the inimitable Diamanda Galas.

discography

Liquid
Label: Mute Records
Released: 03.21.00

Unsound Methods
Label: Reprise
Released: 11.11.97

Bloodline
Label: Sire Records
Released: 04.14.92

Hydrology/1 + 2
Label: Mute Records
Released: 03.20.01

Hydrology
Label: Enigma Records
Released: 06.27.89

 

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